Page 23 - C:\Users\Jim\AppData\Local\Temp\mso61F0.tmp

Henry Francis Lyte was born on the 1st June 1793 at Ednam, near
Kelso, in Scotland. His father was an officer in the navy, but not

very interested in his family and eventually deserted them.

Henry was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland. He was a
member of the Church of England all his life. Wherever he went he
was acknowledged as a man who had a great love for people. But
life was not easy for him in a time when doctors had little
knowledge of how to deal with such complaints as asthma and
tuberculosis, with which he suffered. They could only suggest a
warm climate. But he was known as a man of great talent,
excelling in music, poetry and ministry. He also made many friends
who helped him during times of crisis. One of his poems is entitled,
‘Friends Lost in 1833,’ The first verse reads as follows: “Gone? —
Have ye all then, gone, — The good, the beautiful, the kind and
dear? Passed to your glorious rest so swiftly on. And left me
weeping here?”

Was Henry married? Well, it seems he was: possibly twice! In a
poem headed Agnes, (that I am reading,) he gives the impression
that he not only knows her, he is emotionally connected to her from
childhood through her teenage years to her early death as his
loving wife. That being the case his marriage to a Miss Maxwell,
the daughter of a prominent Methodist family with a large fortune,
was his second marriage. The husband and wife separated on
Sundays to follow their own tradition of worship: she to the
Methodist Church, and he to preach in the Parish Church. It was a
happy marriage and they had two daughters and three sons.

Due to his health he was forced to resign from various
appointments in different parts of the country, and helped by his
wife’s fortune visited other countries in an endeavour to seek relief
in a warmer climate. In 1819 he moved to Brixham in Devon,
where he spent twenty-eight years. He loved to visit the fishermen
coming in after being at sea. He delighted in talking to them.
Because he showed such interest in them they asked him to
conduct services for them. But his health was getting worse and he
was advised by his doctor to take things easy - he couldn’t, it
wasn’t in his nature to do so. He just loved meeting people, talking
about their experiences, and telling them about Jesus.

23